Bathing fixtures

Abstract

A door unit for an enclosure ( 1 ), as for example a shower recess or a combined shower/bath, is provided which includes a first panel ( 20, 301 ) which is pivotably movable relative to a wall ( 3 ) of the enclosure and at least a second panel 21, 302 ) which is movably and rotatably connected to the first panel ( 20, 301 ) at least one of said panels having a roller track associated with an upper end or extremity thereof and the other panel having one or more roller brackets associated with an upper end or extremity thereof, to allow the panels ( 20, 21 and 301, 302 ) to be relatively extensibly one to the other, the unit also including means ( 100 ) for releasably retaining said panels ( 20, 21 and 301, 302 ) in an extended relationship to one another.

1 . A door unit for an enclosure, said door unit including:
 a first panel which is adapted to be pivotably movable relative to a wall of said enclosure and a second panel which is adapted to be movably connected to said first panel and to be extensibly connected to said first panel, wherein one of said first and second panels has a roller track associated with an upper end or extremity thereof and the other of said panels has one or more roller brackets associated with an upper end or extremity thereof, the arrangement being such as to allow said panels to be relatively extensible one to the other, and further including means for releasably retaining said panels in an extended relationship to one another   
     
     
         2 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure is a bathing facility including a bath or tub, wherein said bath or tub includes a rail disposed at the top thereof and extending along the length dimension of the front edge thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the or each roller bracket includes an adjustment means for positioning rollers relative to said roller track. 
     
     
         4 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 3 , further including roller stop members connected to said second panel to thereby limit extension of said second panel relative to said first panel. 
     
     
         5 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each panel has associated with the respective top and bottom ends or extremities thereof a frame assembly, comprised of an elongate channel member, an end cap assembly and a track which is adapted, in use, to be disposed within said channel member. 
     
     
         6 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said first panel is adapted, in use, to be pivotably associated with a pivot column assembly which extends substantially along at least a part of the height dimension of said enclosure, said pivot column assembly comprised of a pivot column and a pivot block or bushing at each end of said pivot column, said pivot column assembly being adapted in use to be affixed to a side wall of said enclosure, with or without the interposition of a jamb member. 
     
     
         7 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said enclosure includes a rail member extending thereacross and releasably affixed thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 7 , including means for releasably retaining said unit in place relative to said rail, thereby to restrict movement of said door unit away from said rail, said retaining means adapted to be activated either internally or externally of said enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said retaining means comprises a releasable fastening means which is adapted to be mounted on and to be selectively and progressively movable relative to, the said rail. 
     
     
         10 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said fastening means includes: a first assembly which is adapted to be disposed externally of said enclosure and which is adapted to co-operate with the rail; and a second assembly which is adapted to be releasably adapted to a second of said panels. 
     
     
         11 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first assembly includes a pivotable arm member, a co-operating locking member and a roller track. 
     
     
         12 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said arm member includes a substantially oblong member having a substantially circular aperture extending therethrough in the vicinity of one end thereof, said aperture including indents or notches disposed at substantially 90° intervals around the circumference thereof, and further including means which allows for selecting pivoting movement of said arm member between respective open and closed positions of said fastening means. 
     
     
         13 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said arm member further includes a plurality of knuckles disposed at spaced-apart positions along the lower position thereof, adapted in use to co-operate with complementary knuckles of said roller track, with the interposition of a pivot pin. 
     
     
         14 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said locking member is an oblong member including a base portion and a substantially cylindrical projection extending substantially normally to said base portion. 
     
     
         15 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said locking member is a magnetic coupling. 
     
     
         16 . An improved bathing enclosure, including one or more door units as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A door unit or assembly for an enclosure, said door unit including: a first panel which is adapted to be pivotably movable relative to a wall of said enclosure; a second panel which is adapted to be movably and extensibly connected to said first panel; and a third panel which is pivotably connectable to said second panel, wherein at least one of said panels has a roller track associated with an upper end or extremity thereof and the or each other of said panels has one or more roller brackets associated with an upper end or extremity thereof, the arrangement being such as to allow said panels to be relatively extensible one to the other, and further including means for releasably and selectively retaining said panels in an extended relationship to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said enclosure is a bathing facility including a bath or tub, wherein said bath or tub includes a rail disposed at the top thereof and extending along the length dimension of the front edge thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the or each roller bracket includes an adjustment means for positioning rollers relative to said roller track. 
     
     
         20 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 19 , further including roller stop members connected to at least said second panel to thereby limit extension of said second panel relative to said, first panel. 
     
     
         21 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein each panel has associated with the respective top ends or extremities thereof a frame assembly, comprised of an elongate channel member, an end cap assembly and a track which is adapted, in use, to be disposed within said channel member. 
     
     
         22 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said first panel is adapted, in use, to be pivotably associated with a pivot column assembly which extends substantially along at least a part of the height dimension of said enclosure, said pivot column assembly comprised of a pivot column and a pivot block or bushing at each end of said pivot column, said pivot column assembly being adapted in use to be affixed to a side wall of said enclosure, with or without the interposition of a jamb member. 
     
     
         23 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said enclosure includes a rail member extending thereacross and releasably affixed thereto. 
     
     
         24 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 23 , including means for releasably retaining said unit in place relative to said rail, thereby to restrict movement of said door unit away from said rail, said retaining means adapted to be activated either internally or externally of said enclosure. 
     
     
         25 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said retaining means comprises a releasable fastening means which is adapted to be mounted on and to be selectively and progressively movable relative to, the said rail. 
     
     
         26 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said fastening means includes: a first assembly which is adapted to be disposed externally of said enclosure and which is adapted to co-operate with the rail; and a second assembly which is adapted to be releasably adapted to a second of said panels. 
     
     
         27 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said first assembly includes a pivotable arm member, a co-operating locking member and a roller track. 
     
     
         28 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said arm member includes a substantially oblong member having a substantially circular aperture extending therethrough in the vicinity of one end thereof, said aperture including indents or notches disposed at substantially 90° intervals around the circumference thereof, and further including means which allows for selecting pivoting movement of said arm member between respective open and closed positions of said fastening means. 
     
     
         29 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said arm member further includes a plurality of knuckles disposed at spaced-apart positions along the lower position thereof, adapted in use to co-operate with complementary knuckles of said roller track, with the interposition of a pivot pin. 
     
     
         30 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said locking member is an oblong member including a base portion and a substantially cylindrical projection extending substantially normally to said base portion. 
     
     
         31 . The door unit as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said locking member is a magnetic coupling. 
     
     
         32 . An improved bathing enclosure, including one or more door units as claimed in  claim 17 .